Connection-protector and trolley-replacer.



A. J. GONLON, P. J. MURPHY & J. T. TIGHEL' CONNECTION PROTECTOR AND TROLLEY REPLACE-R. APPLICATION mum APR. 9, 1912.

Patented Feb. 23. 1915.

.ZZ 143 12 I i l H E INVENTORS.

HE NORRIS 1-: [5R5 cu PHOTO-LITNCI WASHINGTON, D C.

ANDREW J. CONLON, PATRICK J. MURPHY, AND JOHN T. TIGHE, 0F SCRAN'ION,

. PENNSYLVANIA.

CONNECTION-PROTECTOR AND TROLLEY-REPLACER.

Application filed April 9, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ANDREW J. CoNLoN, PATRICK'J. MURPHY, and JOHN T. TIGHE, citizens of the United States, and residents of Scranton, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connection-Protectors and Trolley-Replacers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

. This invention contemplates the provision of means for protecting the connectionpoints on an overhead trolley system, and the adaptation herein illustrated is in connection with a so-called frog In overhead trolley systems, it is customary to make connections or joints in the wires which carry the electricity through a medium other than the wires themselves. Hence it is, that there are provided so called frogs, crossovers, cutouts, sectional cut-outs and the like, according to the necessities of the particular connection made, or the use to which it is put. It is the experience of those who work in this art, that the trolley which travels on these wires most frequently jumps at these connection-points, and in doing so is liable to tear down the highly-charged wire. The reason that most of these breaks occur at these connection-points seems to be because the approach of the car to these points is generally made at an angle thereto, and the trolley wire generally curved, causing the trolley-wheel to ride off the wire. The tension on the trolley itself naturally forces its head up into the point of connection be tween the two wires, where it becomes jammed, and presuming the car to be in motion, serious damage is liable to result. If it is not to the wire, it is to the trolley itself, which is frequently torn from the car.

The primary object of this invention is to eliminate the liability of damage at these connection-points when the trolley leaves the wire, thus obviating the difficulties above referred to; and, secondarily, to provide an eflicient means for replacing the trolley on the wire.

Other objects will in part be apparent, and in part be brought to light in the following description, taken in conjunction Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed Feb. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 689,648.

with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of our invention is de scribed, and 1n which like numerals refer to like parts in the description.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a bottom trolley-wheel (not shown) from the sleeves 7 to the sleeve 8, or vice versa. These sleeves receive the trolley-wires 9, 10, and 11, and are secured to the frog by bolts 12. Bolts 13 are also provided in the frog for the reception ofsupporting span -wires, not shown. It is found that most of the accidents to this form of connection occur when the trolley-wheel becomes lodged between the wires 9 and 10, and to obviate this we provide a strip 14, of any suitable material, metalwhich is a good conductor of electricity-being here shown. This strip is secured at its forward end to the frog in any suitable manner, as by bolts 15, passing through holes 16 in the guard. The opposite end is rounded to provide a surface upon which the trolley-head may pass without catching, the metal, in this instance, being bent back upon itself to form a loop or upwardly extending curve 17. As an additional security, clips 18, attached to the trolley-wire in the usual manner, have their heads'passing through holes 19 in the rear of the guard, and secured thereto by bolts 20. Intermediate these two connectionpoints, there is provided in the guard a bend, as at 21, from which point the surface of the guard slopes gradually until it reaches the edge of the frog. The purpose of this will now be made apparent.

hen the trolley-head strikes the rounded portion or loop 17 of the guard, it is gradually drawn along until the wheel comes into contact therewith, the wires 9 and 10 keeping it from slipping to either side. The wheel passes over the loop 17, to the under surface of the plate or strip 14c, and is guided down the incline to the edge of the frog where it passes between the depending portions 6 on the under side thereofto the wire l1, which is directly in the path of travel of the wheel when it comes between the depending portions 6 of the frog.

In Fig. 4, a slight modification is shown, wherein at the forward end of the guard, a depending hooked portion or lip 22, driven or punched out of the material from which the guard is made, is provided, the same being adapted to be'forced into gripping connection with the edge of the frog, and held in place thereon by clips 18, as described above, these clips passing through holes 23, in the opposite end. The bent portion of this modified form terminates in a depend-. ing ridge 24, which is constructed as a stop to limit the forward movement of the guard on the frog, and to bring the beveled portion 25 into substantial alinernent with the un-. derneath portion thereof, so as to provide an uninterrupted path of travel for the trolleywheel.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that we have devised a simple, eflicient and economical means for preventing the destruction of the connection-points of a socalled live wire, and consequently eliminated the dangers attending its dropping. We have also. provided a device which will, in addition to the above, replace a trolleywheel on the trolley-wire should it jump in the vicinity of our device. In practice, it is customary to attach the forward end of the trolley-replacer to the connection-medium in such a manner that the distance from the underneath surface of the connection-medium t0. the underneath surface of the trolley-replacer (at the point of connection) shall not be greater than the diameter of the trolley-wheel used.

While We have shown its use in connection with a so-called frog, it is to be understood that the device is applicable with equal facility to other forms of connections, and while we have shown only two means for securing itto the connections, other forms within the scope of the invention are permissible, and various structural changes may be resorted to within its limitations which are comprised in the following claims.

WVhat we claim is:

1. A connection protector and trolley replaeer for overhead trolley wires, comprising a guard provided at one end with openings for the reception of means for securing it to a wire connecting instrumentality; and formed at its opposite end with a curved portion, said end being also provided with openings for the reception of means for securing it to the wires.

2. A connection protector and trolley re placer comprising a guard having at one end a curved portion and provided with openings for the reception of means for securing it to trolley wires; and its opposite end being deflected and provided with openings for the reception of means for securing it to a wire connecting instrumentality.

3. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a frog plate, main and branch conducting wires, means to clamp said wires to said plate, a guard adjacent one end of said frog, one end of the guard being extended between the main and branch wires and beneath the frog plate, the

other end of said guard being formed into an upwardly extending curve, and means to clamp the guard adjustably to the main and branch wires, substantially as set forth.

4. As an article of manufacture to be used in conjunction with instrumentality for connecting overhead trolley wires, a guard having two approximately parallel and two converging edges; one of said parallel edges being curved and upturned, and provided in proximity thereto with openings for the reception of means for securing it to trolley wires; the opposite parallel edge being also provided with means for securing it to a wire connecting instrumentality; and a deflected portion intermediate the parallel edges.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW J. CONL'ON. PATRICK J. MURPHY. JOHN T. menu.

lVitnesses JAMES Morn, ED R. CoNLnY.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

